Tropical Storm Don moves closer to Texas; could become 'just a little' stronger

View full sizeJim Sater, Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Beach Operations foreman, packs up one of the lifeguard station on J.P. Luby beach in Padre Island, Texas, with the help Kevin Koster in the forklift Thursday, July 28, 2011 as they prepare the city beaches for the arrival of Tropical Storm Don. Tropical Storm Don is over the central Gulf of Mexico but the system is not expected to become a hurricane as it moves toward southeastern Texas. (AP Photo/Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Todd Yates)

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Don is moving closer to southeast Texas as it crosses the central Gulf of Mexico, but it isn't expected to become a hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Don's maximum sustained winds early today are near 50 mph with only slight strengthening expected before it reaches the coast of Texas late today or early Saturday.

"Moderate northerly shear is forecast until Don makes landfall along with some dry air aloft," hurricane center meteorologists said in their 4 a.m. forecast discussion. "This combination will probably limit significant intensification even though the storm is moving over very warm waters. Most of the guidance shows just a little more strengthening."

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande to Matagorda.

Don is centered about 255 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, and is moving west-northwest near 14 mph.

Meanwhile, the hurricane center says it is tracking a large tropical wave accompanied by a well-defined low pressure system about 1,200 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles. The disturbance continues to show signs of organization, meteorologists say, and environmental conditions are conducive for gradual development over the next few days.

The center gives the system a medium chance -- 30 percent -- of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours as it moves westward or west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph.

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Press-Register staff contributed to this report.

View full sizeA tracking chart from the National Hurricane Center in Miami shows the projected path for Tropical Storm Don, which is projected to make landfall in southeast Texas.